Setting up MythTV as a satellite receiver (DVB-S)

--> You can skip this chapter if you're not using MythTV as a satellite reveiver.

This chapter explains how to configure your DVB-S (Satellite) capture devicesm, prior to reading this page you should have read the chapter called MythTV structure. First the basics are explained followed by a step-by-step example. As example we will be using a DVB-S capture card from Technotrend (the Technotrend Budget S-1500), but this guide should work for any DVB-S card supported by your operating system.

"The Technotrend Budget S-1500 is a DVB-S capturecard with the possibility of adding a optional CI module. A CI-module gives you the possibility to add a Cam module so you can view encrypted channels (pay-tv). This is optional for most DVB cards and does not change any of the following configuration steps.'"'

What about PayTV and encrypted channels?

If you are using your setup to watch encrypted channels (payTV) then you need to pay attention to your choice of hardware. your DVB capture device needs to support the use of a CI device. CI devices can be:

Integrated with your DVB device;

Connected directly to your capture device

Connected to your computer: In this case the device driver for your operating system needs to support this (e.g. a USB based CI device).

Depending on your Television provider you need a CAM module to insert into your CI. In this Cam module you insert your smartcard provided by your television supplier. In short your hardware will be connected like:

Smartcard --> Cam module --> CI slot --> capture device --> computer

From this point on you can follow this guide. Your hardware should decode your television signal automaticaly, transparent for MythTV.

Setting up you capture device

--> you can skip this part if you're dvb-s device is already working properly

In most cases your capture cards should work "out-of-the-box", adjustments are not necessary. To check if your capture device is working you see the following during boot or by using the dmesg command from the terminal.

MythTV configuration

DVB Card Number: 0 (if this is your first DVB card. The number corresponds with what at the end of the dmesg output is displayed: "registering frontend 0".)

By filling out the card, you'll see that "Frontend ID" and "Subtype" automatically filled.

The timeouts can remain on their default values.

Now your screen should look somewhat like the one below (this may vary depending your version and look).

Capture card setup

DiSEqC

If you use a DVB-S capture device, you need to setup the right settings for DiSEqC. This is the protocol which enables your system to tell your dish to which satellite it has to look.

Click on DiSEqC in the configuration of the capture card.

If nothing had yet been configured, you will see "(Unconnected)" on top of the screen. Select this to make adjustments.

Note: In the current version of MythTV it's not yet possible to alter a DiSEqC connection once it is established. If you still want to do this, you must remove the capture card and add it back (in your configuration menu not your hardware stupid...).

If you click "(Unconnected)", you'll get a small list of choices (see image). In this screen you choose to what device your DVB capture device is linked. If in doubt choose LNB.

Diseqc setup

DiSEqC Switch

Choose Switch, if your capturecard is connected with a DiSEqC switch so you can select multiple LNB's (see image below).

Diseqc switch setup

In this screen you'll have the following fields:

Description: A recognizable description for this switch.

Repeat count: The number of times a command is repeated (for unreliable switches).

This program will grab all of the transponder info for the entire satellite, and populate the Myth channel & transponder database. All you need is to be tuned to any TP on that sat (using szap for example). You can find the most recent copy somewhere on www.happysat.org

modchannel.sh

This program will bulk rename/renumber/change EIT/change visible/delete channels/etc. Very handy if you have to rescan a sat often. Available at GenerationD

Contributors

This section is initially setup by Loki with help from MythPortal.be, an excellent resource for setting up MythTV (Dutch language).